2021-09-27 EC Minutes7800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley, MN 55427
763-593-80271 TTY 763-593-39681763-593-8198 (fax) I www.goldenvalleymn.gov
Environmental Commission
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
city of
goldenva,,,,,,,,
September 27, 2021— 6:30 pm
Remote Attendance: Members of the public may attend this meeting via Webex by calling 1-415-655-
0001 and entering access code 177 393 4642.
Questions/Comments: Members of the public who have questions about the commission or any
items on the agenda should contact the staff commission liaison — Eric Eckman, Environmental
Resources Supervisor, eeckman@goldenvalleymn.gov, 763-593-8084.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chair Weirich at 6:30.
2. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Scott Seys, Dawn Hill, Wendy Weirich, Felix Fettig, Debra Yahle, Tonia
Galonska
Commissioners absent: Shannon Hansen, Jim Stemel
Council Members present: Larry Fonnest
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor;
Drew Chirpich, Environmental Specialist;
Ethan Kehrberg, GreenCorps Member;
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant.
3. Approval of Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Seys to approve the agenda for September
27, 2021 and the motion carried.
4. Approval of August 23, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Yahle to approve the minutes of August 23,
2021 as submitted and the motion carried.
5. Old Business
A. Partners in Energy Update
i. Staff met with multifamily building owners and property managers on 9-9-21.
ii. Presentations were done by City and Xcel staff.
iii. 4,000 postcards about Home Energy Squad (HES) were sent to the oldest homes in the
City at the end of Sept. Info about HES will be included in the next CityNews.
iv. Social Media posts will also be done to advertise HES and Energy Month.
v. Everything related to the PIE program will have both the Xcel Energy Logo and City logo.
vi. HES is a separate agreement with CenterPoint and Xcel and is outside the PIE program
so communications for this program will have the HES logo and the City logo.
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sdocument is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please ca-593-8006 (TTY: 763-593-3968) to make a request. Examples of alternate formy include large print, electronic, Braille, audiocassette, etc.
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 2
Sept 27, 2020 — 6:30 pm
vii. Working on having all of the information available for translation into other languages.
viii. Also looking at a program with a 31 party who works with CenterPoint Energy and
conducts business efficiency audits. There is an opportunity there to partner and
potentially buy down site visits. Possibly create a window cling "sticker" for the
businesses door to recognize them as going through the program and making
improvements.
6. New Business
A. New GreenCorps Member, Ethan Kehrberg
L Ethan's focus will be on the Air Pollution Reduction, Energy Action Plan Resilience and
Sustainability Efforts, Organics Recycling, and GreenStep Cities.
B. Water Resources — Neighborhood Flood Study
L Two items on the Commission's 2021 Work Plan:
Help Update the City's Stormwater Management Program and improve the City's
stormwater assessment score in GreenStep Cities as part of the City's permit
requirements with MPCA.
1. The public comment period on the MPCA closed at the end of August.
Now we update the program and City Code over 12 months.
2. Look at long range needs for stormwater storage and consider how to use those
needs to improve recreation and conservation.
ii. The City's proposed 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) includes a study of
localized flood risk in 2022-2023. Staff is beginning to work on the scope of the project.
It will look at the watershed's modeled floodplain at the neighborhood level and help
the City engage with residents, perform field surveys, determine food risk, identify
potential solutions, develop informational mapping tools, and prioritize future
investment.
1. The study will be 3 years — 2 years of study and 1 year of implementation of low-
cost solutions. Hopefully we'll get some grants for bigger projects.
iii. There are over 300 properties in Golden Valley identified to have flood risk and many
more people impacted by flooded streets, parks, and infrastructure.
1. The City and Bassett Creek Watershed (BCW) help manage these areas with
respect to land use, development, and natural resources.
iv. Understanding the flood risk and identifying possible solutions is critical to the City's
climate mitigation efforts, community resilience goals, and commitment to achieving
more equitable outcomes.
1. It's also an important part of the City's participation in FEMA's Community Rating
System. It provides residents with lower flood insurance premiums.
v. Areas with a lot of flood storage:
1. Brookview
2. General Mills Nature Preserve
3. Theo Wirth Park
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
Sept 27, 2020 — 6:30 pm
vi. A lot of neighborhood parks were built before there was a lot of regulations. Now we're
looking to re-establish stormwater functions including flood storage in these parks.
vii. The City has partnered with others such as the Watershed and Minnesota DNR Flood
Reduction Program to purchase several properties over time to convert to green open
space. The City has also worked with homeowners who voluntarily wanted to sell.
Many were located adjacent to established nature areas.
viii. The City adopted a floodproofing cost sharing program so there's money devoted to
helping residents recoup the cost of floodproofing their home. Up to 40% of cost, up to
$50,000.
ix. The study will look at the areas with multiple homes that are at risk. How can we lower
flood levels in that area? The Medley Park Storm Water Improvement Project is one of
those projects that will improve the flood risk to many homes.
x. Possibly look into an online tool that will show residents the flood risk in their area with
different levels of rainfall? Show effects of small and large storms. Include steps for the
homeowner on mitigating the flood risk. Tell what city is doing to mitigate risk.
xi. Zoning laws — are you allowed to get rid of your driveway and put in a green driveway?
Maybe put in pavers instead of asphalt. Need more incentives and regulations to
increase pervious (green) areas.
xii. How can the City engage with residents?
1. In person and online.
2. Pop-up meetings in a park — meet people where they are.
3. Get community together. Help build community, find leaders.
4. Transparency. Walk people through the issues and solutions.
5. Neighborhood driven -not City driven -approaches
xiii. Want to know how often the flooding could/has happened.
xiv. Take a neighborhood approach. Go to the community with potential solutions and have
the community/neighborhood discuss what should be done. Solutions should add value
and benefit to the neighborhood.
xv. Need to refine flood risk in neighborhoods based on additional study.
xvi. Use the equity lense. Prioritize improvement areas based on environmental justice and
the Inequities in Green Amenities map developed by the subcommittee of Commissions.
Update this map based on the new census data. Identify those who are house burdened.
xvii. Tie in community resilience and emergency management.
C. MN Cities Climate Caucus (MNCCC)
i. Focus on two areas
1. Influence state policy and regulations to help cities meet their goals.
2. Accelerate the learning and spread of city -level best practices and policy ideas.
ii. The MNCCC is made up of elected officials from throughout the state, though appointed
staff may participate as appropriate.
iii. Meetings will be held, usually, no more than once per month.
1. City staff has tried to make most of the meetings. Council has not officially said
we are a part of this group.
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
Sept 27, 2020 — 6:30 pm
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iv. Currently discussing a multi -City declaration to the climate emergency. Not every City
has the same declaration. Each City creates their own.
v. Would doing something like this add to the work staff is already doing? Maybe this is
too much? Maybe do this if there are benefits to the City? Would this strengthen the
need for additional resources? Maybe just monitor for now and receive updates?
D. Program/Project Updates
i. Another round of funding has been opened for the Lawns to Legumes program.
1. Applications due by Feb 15, 2022. Decisions made in March.
2. Info will be posted on social media and in the Newsletter.
ii. Golden Valley Country Club Villas — Plans proposed for 7 units with some public
amenities.
E. Council Updates
Council has approved a contract with a recruitment vendor of America's Best Strategic
Security Group to do a national search for our new police chief. They will be in town in
October. Residents can meet the consultant at an open house on Oct 14 from 6-8 at
Brookview.
F. Other Business
i. City staff sent a letter to all licensed trash haulers reminding them of the days/hours of
operation.
ii. Sharing garbage service with a neighbor is a gray area in the code. Nothing specifically
prohibiting it — may need to request a waiver for this alternative.
7. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Fettig, seconded by Commissioner Yahle to adjourn the meeting at
8:02 pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Wendy Weirich, Chair